The Food Stamp Program is not just for people with children. It is also for eligible individuals including the elderly and disabled. Through the receipt of a grant from the US Department of Agriculture, Legal Aid of Nebraska is able to offer information and assistance on the Nebraska food stamp program to anyone who would like to receive it.

The Food Stamp Program is not a welfare program. It is a nutrition assistance program that helps people with little or no income buy nutritious food.  Food stamp benefits are not cash, but come in a plastic card that you use like a bank card to buy food.  Most grocery stores take food stamp benefits.  Food stamps help stretch your money at the grocery store so you can buy a variety of healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.

To see if you might be eligible for Food Stamps  visit the United States Department of Agriculture and use their On-Line Prescreening Tool. At the end of the screening tool will be listed several other resources that may be available for you 

 To apply for food stamps, you can call or go to your local food stamp office and request an application.  You can also call our information center 877-250-2016, listen to the food stamps message and leave your name and address at the end of the message and Legal Aid will send an application to you.  You will need to complete the application as much as possible and return it to the local food stamp office.  If you are eligible for food stamp benefits, your benefits start from the day the local office receives your signed, dated application form.  The local office will set an appointment time to interview you in person or over the phone.  Lastly, you will need to provide proof of your income, expenses, and provide your social security number. 

To find your local food stamp office, call 1-800-430-3244, that number again is 1-800-430-3244.  You can also visit Nebraska Department of Health and Human services website,  http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/fia/fstamps.htm or the USDA website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/default.htm for more information.